Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Letter from UEA President

Dear Fellow UEA
Members,

I am writing to you
today about the appointment Brad Smith, current Ogden School District
Superintendent, as the State Superintendent of Instruction. I recognize there is
angst by many over Mr. Smith’s appointment.

First, let me thank
those of you who actively engaged with your State Board of Education members.
The current Utah
State Board of Education is very divided. Supt. Smith was selected by an 8-7
margin. Many Board votes are determined by the same margin.

Second, we are very
disappointed the State Board of Education appointed a State Superintendent with
no significant classroom teaching experience and little public education
administration experience. With so little education knowledge, we anticipate
the learning curve for Supt. Smith will be very steep. The UEA hopes and expects
to work directly with Supt. Smith, as we have with past superintendents, to help
him understand and appreciate the views of classroom teachers.

Finally, let me
reassure each of you that UEA has staff and leaders sitting in each and every
USOE Board meeting working to influence board rule and board members. Because of
UEA, the interviews for State Superintendent were held in open meetings, the
stakeholders were involved in the semi-finalist interviews and the public
weighed in on the issue of the next Superintendent having education experience.
Did we win the day? No, but you can darn well bet the public, teachers and other
stakeholders are going to keep tabs on Mr. Smith.

It is important to
note that Superintendent Smith’s record in working with teachers has evolved
significantly over his short tenure in Ogden School District. A local UniServ
director who works with Supt. Smith said, “I believe Mr. Smith's view of teacher
organizations has changed in the (past few) years…We went from having a
district-implemented contract in 2011 to very positive contract negotiations
this past year. Teachers received all of their lost pay steps…for some, 3 pay
steps equaling more than a $5,000 a year pay increase. Teachers now have a
salary schedule where they will always continue to advance and we have
solidified more protections for teachers…Plus, we have been
very successful in winning grievances that he has ruled on.”

We will continue to
work collaboratively with the new State Superintendent but we will also not lose
sight of the fact that teachers need the support of the State School Board and
the State Office of Education. Rest assured that we “have your back” and we will
continue to be vigilant in our representation of you, the member.